Situation: We are in start up phase of colony/tractor. Large dog run, with chook wire added to bottom foot perimeter walls. I move it every few days around my tree for shade, but once cooler months, it can go all over the house block. Its easy to move.
And we are approaching breeding time for 2 of my females.
How do i provide nest box for my two older. Do i simply put one in for each doe into the colony bedding area? What's to stop other rabbits using it as a bed?
I really want to keep the rabbit tractor moving, or they will kill the grass/feed/regeneration of lawn process. I dont want mum's burrowing to make a nest, i want to them to use nest box so i can check them. They have a digging box inside tractor, and all seem rather taken to digging in there, and not digging elsewhere. Im rather confused as to how breeding is done in colony space that moves every week?
Currently when i move them, I disturb the upside down dog kennel sleep area with straw, and clean and provide new straw.
My worry is mum will nest in here, and all the other rabbits will harm/disturb the kits.
Im scratching my head trying to work out how this will work. Most colonies are not moving weekly. So permanent areas can be made up. But how to do this, when you move the whole thing weeklyish?
A separate question: im making up a few nest boxes. I see nice ones made of wood. Im using cob as that's what i have materials for. Is there some general rule of thumb on dimensions? how high are walls, how long is box, how wide is box. Im using rabbit wire, and coat hangers, for metal reinforcement anti rodent proofing, then applying cob like plaster to the frame and drying it in our sun.
And we are approaching breeding time for 2 of my females.
How do i provide nest box for my two older. Do i simply put one in for each doe into the colony bedding area? What's to stop other rabbits using it as a bed?
I really want to keep the rabbit tractor moving, or they will kill the grass/feed/regeneration of lawn process. I dont want mum's burrowing to make a nest, i want to them to use nest box so i can check them. They have a digging box inside tractor, and all seem rather taken to digging in there, and not digging elsewhere. Im rather confused as to how breeding is done in colony space that moves every week?
Currently when i move them, I disturb the upside down dog kennel sleep area with straw, and clean and provide new straw.
My worry is mum will nest in here, and all the other rabbits will harm/disturb the kits.
Im scratching my head trying to work out how this will work. Most colonies are not moving weekly. So permanent areas can be made up. But how to do this, when you move the whole thing weeklyish?
A separate question: im making up a few nest boxes. I see nice ones made of wood. Im using cob as that's what i have materials for. Is there some general rule of thumb on dimensions? how high are walls, how long is box, how wide is box. Im using rabbit wire, and coat hangers, for metal reinforcement anti rodent proofing, then applying cob like plaster to the frame and drying it in our sun.